Do you see any similarities between the Rockies and Twins organizations?

— Evan, Gladstone, Mich.

Cuddyer: That’s an interesting question because that’s one of the things that drew me to Colorado.

I think there are a lot of similarities, especially over the past few years. Last year, there were high expectations for the Rockies, but somewhere and somehow along the way, they lost their way. The same exact thing happened with Minnesota.

But I think both are great places for a professional ballplayer. From what I have seen so far, the Rockies organization treats players like family members, just like in Minnesota. I think they care a lot about the culture within the clubhouse.

I think both teams have great players and a lot of promise, despite last season’s disappointments.

What do you think will be the biggest change for you — personally and professionally — as you move to Colorado and the National League?

–Carol, Southern California

Cuddyer: There are going to be a few changes, that’s for sure.

For one thing, I have had a condo in Fort Meyers (Fla.) for spring training, so I never had to worry about finding a place to live.

And, of course, we know the area around Minneapolis so well, so it was very comfortable.

So one big thing is finding a place to live and having to make adjustments now that we have three kids. But I’m sure it will all work out fine.

Professionally, I’m looking forward to the challenge of a new league. I will be adjusting to new ballparks and to new pitchers. I don’t have a long track record against most of the pitchers in the National League, so, for the most part, that will be the biggest adjustment.

Hey Michael, I’m looking forward to watching you play at Coors Field! What are you most excited about playing for Colorado, and what are you most excited about living in the Denver area?

— Sam, Los Alamos, N.M.

Cuddyer: Being from the East Coast, and living here in on the beach in Virginia, and living in Minnesota where it’s very flat, I’m excited about a new environment. My wife is excited, too. We’ve never been to a place surrounded by mountains before, so we are really looking forward to that.

I can see me taking my son up in the mountains on a day off and showing him things and places he’s never seen before.

Playing at Coors Field will be fun. It’s known as a hitter’s park, so that’s exciting. The Metrodome was know as a medium hitter’s park. Target Field, I’m afraid, was not known as a hitter’s park.

With all you did around Twins territory with your many contributions, what do you plan to do in Colorado? And will you still remain active in your charities here? Thank you for the great memories, Cuddy.

— Adam, Minneapolis

Cuddyer: Obviously, we worked very hard to entrench ourselves in the community in Minnesota and we plan to do the same thing in Colorado.

One of my interests in Minneapolis was working the Boys and Girls Club, so I hope to start a relationship with the Boys and Girls Club in Denver.

My wife was on the board of directors for a few charities in Minnesota… something she loves. She was on the board of Cheerful Givers. That’s an organization that provides birthday bags to kids whose parents can’t afford the presents. We give the $10 bags to the parents so they could give birthday presents to the kids, and the kids will think the presents are from their parents.

First off, welcome to Denver! I look forward to what you bring to the Rockies, and I’m excited to see you play ball. I was wondering, with the Rockies having such a disappointing season last year, what do you feel needs to improve?

–Brian, Denver

Cuddyer: I’m going to be honest and say that I didn’t follow the Rockies that closely because they were in the National League. But I do think we’re talented.

We have the best shortstop in the majors in Tulo, one of the best young outfielders in Carlos Gonzalez and a great veteran first baseman in Todd (Helton).

I think getting (catcher) Ramon Hernandez gives us a proven, veteran voice behind the plate. I think (infielder) Casey Blake was another good veteran addition. So I think the pieces are there.

And I am excited about the young pitching staff. Yes, it’s young, but we have a lot of guys who can throw 94-95 mph, and those guys have a chance to get better. And I think we have a strong bullpen, and what winning teams all have in common is that they have strong bullpens. So I’m excited with our potential.

Welcome to Colorado and happy New Year to you and your family. What is the opinion, outside of Colorado and within the major leagues, of Colorado’s everyday stars — Tulo, CarGo and Todd Helton?

–Glenn, Longmont

Cuddyer: First of all, happy New Year to you and your family, too.

I think it’s well known that Tulo is widely respected throughout the game of baseball. I’ve only seen him a handful of times in my time in the majors, but I was always impressed by the tenacity he brought to the field. I’m not talking just about at the plate, but in the field. He became one of my favorite players because of his tenacity at short and because of the excitement he brings to the game.

With Cargo, I think the offensive numbers speak for themselves. But I’m also impressed with his defense and how much pride he takes at playing the outfield. I think that’s his reputation throughout baseball.

And I don’t think there are enough good things you can say about Todd. For a decade and a half he’s been one of the best, if not the best, player in Rockies history. I can tell you that Todd is widely respected throughout the game.

How much video do you watch of opposing pitchers, and what do you look for when you’re watching video?

— Roger, Eaton

Cuddyer: That’s a great question, and what you said was key. The only time I watch video is when I’m studying the opposing pitcher.

I will watch a lot of video of the pitcher we are facing that night. I will watch all of my at-bats against him, even back to 2005. That way I can remember in my head his release point on a slider or how the ball comes out of his hand.

Then I will also watch his last two or three starts, and I’ll focus on right-handed hitters. I want to see what was working and what wasn’t working.

I don’t really look at my hitting mechanics on video. I have a hitting coach to to help me with that. Plus, when I’m working on hitting, it’s something I feel in my swing. The feeling tells me where I’m at.

We miss you in Minnesota already. Are you excited to get to hit in Coors field, which is more of a hitter’s park than Target Field?

–Greg, Minnesota

Cuddyer: I’m excited about hitting at Coors and excited about hitting in the whole National League West.

I’m a gap-to-gap hitter and I hit with power to the right-center field gap. At the Metrodome, I would drive the ball to the baggy out in right center, and I really peppered the ball. But if you hit the ball to right-center at Target Field, the ball would just die. It’s a long way out there.

At Coors Field, I think I can take advantage of my natural swing and I won’t have to try and pull the ball. When I’m going well, I’m driving the ball to right-center and I don’t have to overcompensate and try to pull the ball. At Coors, I can pull those inside pitches down the line, but I think overall it’s a more natural fit for my swing.

1. Ginger or Mary Ann?

2. Will you miss (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) columnist Sid Hartman?

3 . Did you whine about the batter’s eye pine trees at Target Field?

–John, Mankato, Minn.

Cuddyer: I’m not too familiar with “Gilligan’s Island,” and I can’t say that I have ever even watched an episode. But since my wife is a pretty brunette, I will have to go with Mary Ann.

I will miss Sid Hartman. We had a great relationship. He helped me out by promoting my charities and I helped him out on his morning sports radio show.

As for the trees. I don’t think I whine about anything in my profession. But I will say that the trees were something that was talked about by fans and by the players in the clubhouse.

(Editor’s note: The batter’s eye at Target Field contained 14 black spruce trees behind the center-field wall. Hitters complained that the trees were a distraction, saying that the trees made it difficult to see the ball coming out of the pitcher’s hand, particularly during windy days when the trees moved. The trees were removed prior to the 2011 season).

What was your favorite place to relax in Minnesota? There are a lot of places in Colorado, and a few lakes you have to traverse to find up in the Rockies, but well worth the treks! Enjoy it out there …

— Russell, River Falls, Wisc.

Cuddyer: I am most relaxed and most happy when I’m with my family at our home. We would take our son to a lot of the beautiful parks in Minneapolis or to a lot of the little swimming holes. I know Denver is a very outdoors city, so we are looking forward to experiencing that.

Welcome to Denver! I’ve noticed from your Twitter feed that you are a bit of an outdoorsy dude with a photography hobby. How much did Colorado’s nature scene figure into your decision to sign with the Rockies? Also, do you ski or board?

— Andy, Denver

Cuddyer: First and foremost, I am not allowed to ski or snowboard, so I won’t be doing that for at least three more years and hopefully longer than that. But I am excited to experience the mountains and the wide-open spaces. The topograhy is so different than what I am used to.

As for the photography, I don’t know if I can do too much right away . Maybe we will all have to go on the road and take some photos.

(Editor’s note: Cuddyer is an aspiring photographer and often takes photos of landscapes when he’s on the road. He also takes photos of the various ballparks he plays in.)

Michael Cuddyer, 32, became the Rockies’ new right fielder last month when he signed a three-year, $31.5 million free-agent contract.

A much-needed right-handed power bat, Cuddyer will most likely hit fifth or sixth in the Rockies’ order. He hit .284 with 20 home runs and 29 doubles for the Minnesota Twins last season. Cuddyer also could play first base when the Rockies want to sit left-handed-hitting veterans Todd Helton and Jason Giambi.

The Rockies usually don’t make a big splash in free agency, but they made an exception when they went after Cuddyer.

“We don’t have many of these,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We earmarked Michael the middle of last summer as someone we thought probably was a difference-maker for our club.”

Cuddyer, born in Norfolk, Va., spent the first 11 seasons of his big-league career with the Twins. He and his wife, Claudia, have three children. On Dec. 6, Claudia gave birth to twin girls, Chloe and Madeline. The Cuddyers also have a 3-year-old son, Casey.

They make their offseason home in Virginia, but plan on finding a home in Colorado.